FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**Update** Residential Structure Fire on Park Avenue

Columbia Fire Department investigators have estimated damage from this fire to be $80,000. The cause is still under investigation.

The Columbia Fire Department was dispatched to a residential structure fire at 909 Park Avenue on Tuesday July 29, 2014 at 12:24pm. A 911 caller stated heavy fire was coming from the structure.

Units arrived less than two minutes later and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the home. Fire crews performed an aggressive fire attack using pre-connected hose lines and brought the fire under control in approximately five minutes.

Moments before fire crews arrived, a witness working across the street assisted the one female occupant out of the structure. She was transported to University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Fire crews performed overhaul activities, looking for hidden fire and burning embers in concealed spaces for a little over one hour. During overhaul, two cats were found deceased inside the home. Fire extension into the attic space made overhaul activities more labor intensive and time consuming.

Fire investigators are currently working to identify the cause of the fire and an area of origin. No additional information regarding origin, cause or a damage estimate are available at this time.

Five units from the Columbia Fire Department responded to this event. The Columbia Fire Department wants to remind citizens that working smoke alarms do save lives. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button. Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke alarms every ten years. To ensure adequate protection, place smoke alarms in every sleeping room and in a common area on every floor.